Gainesville officer charged with assault

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - A Gainesville police officer is in custody after being charged with aggravated assault.

According to the Gainesville Police Department, the investigation began as part of a formal complaint against 40-year-old Officer Derek Evatt on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

The charges against Evatt stemmed from what police called "an off-duty domestic related issue in late 2017 that involved a minor."

After an investigation conducted by the GBI, officers obtained a warrant for Evatt's arrest.

He was arrested Monday and charged with one count of aggravated assault. He has since been fired from the Gainesville Police Department.

“Although a sad and unfortunate situation, if an officer violates the law, they will face consequences. I, along with my administration, expect all officers to conduct themselves ethically, honestly and with integrity both on and off-duty,” Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish said.

Evatt is currently in custody at the Hall County Jail.